Date of Dissolution

Date of Restoration

The Swords of Sanghelios[4] were a break-away faction of the former Covenant Separatists composed predominantly of Sangheili. The Covenant Separatist movement was originally founded as a rebellion against the San'Shyuum-led Covenant, after the Sangheili learned of the true nature of the Halo Installations near the end of the Battle of Installation 05 in November 2552. Following the end of the Human-Covenant war and the destruction of the Covenant, the Swords of Sanghelios was officially formed. The government rapidly grew in scope and influence, eventually taking control of Sanghelios and the majority of the Sangheili inner colonies. The Swords of Sanghelios are also one of a very select few breakaway Covenant factions to maintain diplomatic relations with humanity following the end of the war.

By March 2553 Thel 'Vadam had become the de facto leader of the Swords of Sanghelios and was still in power as of 2559. While the Swords of Sanghelios maintained a solid following, they met resistance from numerous conservativefactions which held true to the Covenant religion or to the religion of ancient Sangheili.

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The Swords of Sanghelios originated as an ancient alliance of Kaidons dedicated to the overthrow of a tyrannical Arbiter that was in control of the continent Qivro in the time before the Sangheili became a spacefaring race. They also assisted in making the rest of the Sangheili fall in line under the Writ of Union.[1]

After returning to Sanghelios, the ArbiterThel 'Vadam attempted to unite the Sangheili. Not every Sangheili wanted peace though, leading to an attack on the Arbiter himself in March of 2553. Sometime following the assault, the Arbiter would consolidate several Clans under the banner of the ancient order, the Swords of Sanghelios.[2]

In late 2558 the Swords would trade final blows with Jul 'Mdama's Covenant. Following the death of Jul 'Mdama, his forces would stage a daring assault on Swords forces in Nuusra, Sanghelios. With the help of Fireteam Osiris, the attack would fail.[3] Later that same day, the Swords would engage the remnant of his forces at Sunaion, destroying them.[10]

Unlike most other Covenant splinter groups, the Swords of Sanghelios are a secular government rejecting the Covenant religion and questions the traditional faith. However, many Sangheili still continues to worship the Forerunners, with some factions opposing the Swords of Sanghelios following the end of the Human-Covenant war.